Loading Manuals (Who Do YOU Trust? or...)

spclark

... I'm never too old to learn.Got a new .45 ACP HK Expert last week; a cartridge mostly new to me (been reloading .40 S&W, .44 Mag for awhile now among others) & made up a batch this morning using Midway's M.A.P.P book for .45 ACP. Had some Hornady HP/XTP's in 185 & 200 grain that Midway specs say should measure 1.275" OAL. Seemed a bit longish, but.... Loaded 40 of each & went to the range, 9.8 grains of AA5 (approaching hot, according to Midway, but well withing their recommended maximum charge).Didn't think to try an unprimed case & bullet at this length before loading either the other primed cases or the car for the trip. Took two .44's as well, just for fun, along with some .45 ammo I'd loaded & shot a few of the day I picked up the HK.Came time to try the XTP's & found that, though they loaded O.K. in the magazine, the receiver wouldn't lock up at ALL close, so I broke the HK down, tried a round in the breech & found it about 1/16" too long; the bullet was hitting the rifling well before the case mouth seated properly in the chamber.Put away the HK.Got home, checked my Lyman's book, found they recommend OAL of 1.175" for the same bullet, AA5 maximum at 9.2 grains.Got out my inertia puller, got down to work.

Rafter-S

I have used Speer, Hornaday, Sierra, and Lyman books for 35 years. Never had a problem--trust them completely.

rwfixem

Modern Reloading by Richard Lee(Lee Reloading Tools). Any of the name brands are good. The reloading help books put out by the NRA will reinforce tips about checking reloaded rounds in auto pistol chambers before an episode like yours ruins the day. The reload info in the old P.O. Ackley books should not be used as some of it is 50 years old and the powder batches have changed since then.

dheffley

I use the Sierra the most, but as Rafter-S said, Speer, Hornaday, and Lyman are trustworhty too. In fact, I have all 4 plus a few others (cast bullets and jacketed bullets don't use the same loads) and I cross reference a new load before I try it. Better safe than sorry.

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Save, research, then buy the best.Join the NRA, NOW!Teach them young, teach them safe, teach them forever, but most of all, teach them to VOTE!

spclark

Yes, dheffley, I generally do the same thing - in yesterday's case, my change in routine was what caused my frustration.I found another curious "recommendation" in the M.A.P.P from Midway for .44 Rem Mag in the section for 300 grain; one of their OAL specs for a particular jacketed bullet ignores the factory cannelure completely.I reloaded the bits & pieces according to the Lyman guide & had a great time today at the range. Guess it's best to go with the manuals published by the folks who make the stuff rather than just sell it.Thanks (all) for your contributions.

Tailgunner1954

Typos can and do happen with any manual (their's one out there that has quite a few and will remain nameless here) Thats why compairing data is importantBTW: Noslers manual is my personal favorate for data and the A-Square manual for information.Note that a lot of the data in the old manuals is dangerous due to component changes and the methods used to obtain the data.

Iconoclast

I do compare manuals just to check things of this nature, but if I had to limit myself to one, it would be Lyman. I think they are generally a little on the conservative side, which I prefer anyway, but I've never (yet!) had any problem with any of their data / loads.

spclark

Tailgunner1954: Why "nameless?"I ask only in the interest of safety: if there's a manual out there with erroneous, inaccurate, or otherwise unsafe information - taking the last date of publication into account - what could be wrong with calling it for what it is?My point in posting this topic was to draw attention to a manual being sold by a popular distributor of reloading supplies, in which specific information can be found that results - if followed to the letter - in ammuntion that cannot be used in firearms of a very popular, standard caliber's chambers.One might safely be able to use such ammo with Moon clips in a revolver chambered for .45 ACP, but shouldn't a .45 ACP manual spell out that certain suggested loads won't work at all in standard, .45 ACP semi-autos?If I had less experience with reloading & firearms in general (certainly there are such among the followers of this forum, as well as those with much more history in these endeavors) and had forced the slide home on my first round of this load, I could be missing a hand (or worse) tonight.

Tailgunner1954

Barnes current manual, they are aware of the mistakes and are working on the corrections

CS8161

Whenever I load a new caliber, or a new bullet combination, I use a case gauge to check the first few rounds before making a quantity of rounds. I also use the barrel from my pistol to see if my rounds will drop into the chamber. (I remove the barrel from the pistol). That way, when I get to the range, there are hopefully, no surprises!

spclark

Thanks Tailgunner1954 for your reply.Having found two questionable entries in two of their M.A.P.P. guides I intend to let Midway know of them - again in the interest of safety.I try to make a practice of cross-checking as well & encourage all reloaders to do the same.I bought the Midway manuals expressly for additional reference sources for calibers I like but if the data is questionable their utility is less than useable.